Sherdog’s Official Mixed Martial Arts Rankings

Featherweight

1. Jose Aldo (26-2)

It is not the Conor McGregor rematch he assuredly wants, but Aldo is set for a Brazilian homecoming to unify the UFC featherweight crown. Aldo headline UFC 212 on June 3 in Rio de Janeiro against interim champion Max Holloway in what could easily be one of the most thrilling bouts of the entire year.

2. Max Holloway (17-3)

It took 10 straight wins in the UFC and an interim title strap, but Holloway finally has the sort of big fight for which he has been angling. Following his December blowout of Anthony Pettis to win his interim trinket and his subsequent “Where’s Jose Waldo?” media campaign, the 25-year-old Hawaiian dynamo is now set to unify the featherweight title against Jose Aldo at UFC 212 on June 3 in Rio de Janeiro.

3. Frankie Edgar (22-5-1)

Maybe a second loss to the legendary Jose Aldo cooled expectations for Edgar, or maybe his November win over Jeremy Stephens was a little too competitive for some peoples' tastes. Regardless, many thought fast-rising Mexican prospect Yair Rodriguez would be able to jump several tiers in opposition and knock off Edgar at UFC 211 in Dallas. Instead, “The Answer” absolutely pulverized Rodriguez, destroying his left eye en route to a doctor stoppage after 10 minutes.

4. Cub Swanson (25-7)

Swanson, a perennial top-10 featherweight and perhaps the best fighter in the division to never get a crack at a WEC or UFC title, deserved better than a five-round main event with Conor McGregor training partner Artem Lobov. Nonetheless, Swanson accepted the dubious headlining fight for the UFC's return to Nashville, Tennessee, and then performed in true Cub Swanson fashion, for better or for worse: Swanson indulged Lobov's free-swinging style and ate 123 significant strikes, more than any fight in his pro career, but still comfortably prevailed via unanimous decision after an entertaining brawl that arguably had no business going 25 minutes.

5. Ricardo Lamas (17-5)

Since he entering the UFC ranks nearly seven years ago, here is a list of the men who have beaten Lamas: Jose Aldo, Chad Mendes and Max Holloway, three of perhaps the best eight 145-pounders to ever fight in a cage. Not defined by his losses, “The Bully” smashed and submitted savvy Charles “do Bronx” Oliveira last time out and then welcomed a fight invitation from returning Chan Sung Jung. Lamas has gotten his wish, as he will face off with “The Korean Zombie” in an outstanding featherweight bout at UFC 214 on July 29.

6. Anthony Pettis (19-6)

Pettis has gone just 1-1 as a featherweight in the UFC, but after blowing weight for an interim title fight with Max Holloway and losing via third-round knockout in December, “Showtime” is targeting a return to 155 pounds. The onetime UFC lightweight champion will move to his former weight class to meet longtime divisional standout Jim Miller at UFC 213 on July 8 in Las Vegas.

7. Chan Sung Jung (15-4)

Jung was supposed to fight Akira Corassani in October 2014 but injured his shoulder in training and then was forced to report for mandatory South Korean military duty. After over two years away, “The Korean Zombie” returned in style in February, icing Dennis Bermudez in under three minutes in Houston. Following the win, the 30-year-old action hero called out fellow former UFC title challenger Ricardo Lamas. That call has been answered. Jung's road to a second UFC 145-pound title shot runs through “The Bully” on July 29 at UFC 214.

8. Darren Elkins (22-5)

Elkins has whipped up four straight wins in the Octagon. His most recent victory, a third-round knockout of previously undefeated prospect Mirsad Bektic in March, was one of the most thrilling moments of 2017 thus far. If “The Damage” is going to keep his streak rolling, he will need to knock off big-punching, hard-wrestling Dennis Bermudez at UFC on Fox 25 on July 22.

9. Doo Ho Choi (14-2)

Given the sheer level of violence that Choi helped bring to the table in his December loss to Cub Swanson, it stood to reason that MMA fans would be hot for his next booking. While a bout with Renan Barao in April did not materialize, “The Korean Superboy” is now set to return to the Octagon in a highly appealing pairing of up-and-coming featherweights: Choi is slated to face free-swinging Andre Fili at UFC 214 on July 29 in Anaheim, California.

10. Patricio Freire (26-4)

The last two years were brutal for Freire. He lost the Bellator MMA featherweight title to a man he had already beaten twice, Daniel Straus, and then moved up to 155 pounds to face former UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson, only to retire in the second round after breaking his shin. “Pitbull” got back on track on April 21, returning to 145 pounds and guillotining Straus to regain his Bellator title. The question remains whether or not the company can find the Brazilian some fresh talent to face, as “Pitbull” already seems lined up to defend against Daniel Weichel -- a man he knocked out in June 2015.

Other Contenders: Renato Carneiro, Andre Fili, Jason Knight, Brian Ortega, Yair Rodriguez.

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